Ski track maintenance system

Abstract

A snow track maintenance system is described herein including a frame extending along an axis which is oriented along a direction of displacement, a mounting assembly secured to the frame for mounting the frame to a motorized vehicle so as to be trailed therefrom along the direction of displacement, and a leveler mounted to the frame so as to be pivotable relatively to the direction of displacement. Other equipments may further be provided to the maintenance system, including a snow regenerator mounted to the frame along a first longitudinal axis generally perpendicular to the direction of displacement, and a snow compactor mounted to the frame upstream from the snow regenerator. The system can be used for the maintenance of alpine ski tracks and cross-country ski tracks, even in an underbrush trail, and allows setting a track on any type of snow.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A snow track maintenance system comprising:
 a frame extending along a first longitudinal axis; 
 a mounting assembly secured to the frame for mounting the frame to a vehicle so as to be trailed therefrom along a direction of displacement oriented along the first longitudinal axis; and 
 a leveller mounted to the frame so as to be pivotable relatively to the direction of displacement towards a selected lateral side of the frame and so as to contact a snowy ground under the frame when the frame is mounted to the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       2. A snow track maintenance system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a snow regenerator operatively mounted to the frame downstream from the leveller; and 
 a snow compactor operatively mounted to the frame downstream from the snow regenerator. 
 
     
     
       3. A snow track maintenance system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the snow regenerator includes a roll rotatably mounted to the frame so as to at least partially extend from the frame. 
     
     
       4. A snow track as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the roll is spiked. 
     
     
       5. A snow track as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the roll is powered. 
     
     
       6. A snow track maintenance system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the snow regenerator is covered by a cap. 
     
     
       7. A snow track maintenance system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the snow regenerator is positioned along the longitudinal axis on a side of the snow compactor nearest the mounting assembly. 
     
     
       8. A snow track maintenance system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the snow compactor is in the form of a plate having an under surface and being mounted to the frame so that the under surface contacts the snowy ground. 
     
     
       9. A snow track maintenance system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the leveller includes a snow pusher. 
     
     
       10. A snow track maintenance system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the leveller includes a snow pusher mounted to the frame via a pusher positioning assembly including a mounting bar pivotally mounted to the frame thereunder and two parallel arm arrangements for mounting the snow pusher to the mounting bar and to force a parallel relationship between the snow pusher and the mounting bar when the snow pusher is moved towards the frame. 
     
     
       11. A snow track maintenance system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the pusher positioning assembly further includes at least one of a tensioning assembly for creating an adjustable force by the pusher on the snowy ground and a pusher raising assembly form moving the pusher from a lower operating position to a raised non-operating position. 
     
     
       12. A snow track maintenance system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 two parallel keels mounted to the frame so as to be oriented along the direction of displacement of the frame and so as to contact the snow track when the snow maintenance system lays on the snowy ground. 
 
     
     
       13. A snow track maintenance system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein each of the keels includes a blade-like member. 
     
     
       14. A snow track maintenance system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the keels are mounted to the frame on opposite lateral sides thereof. 
     
     
       15. A snow track maintenance system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the keels are tapered from front to back. 
     
     
       16. A snow track maintenance system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a track setter. 
     
     
       17. A snow track maintenance system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mounting assembly is configured for mounting the frame to the vehicle so as to provide pivotal movements of the frame relative to the vehicle about two perpendicular pivot axes; both pivot axies being further perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and one of the two pivot axis being generally perpendicular to the snowy ground. 
     
     
       18. A snow track maintenance system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a carrier assembly mounted to the frame so as to be movable between i) a lowered position wherein the leveller contacts the snowy ground and ii) a raised position wherein the leveller does not contact the snowy ground. 
     
     
       19. A ski track maintenance system comprising:
 a frame extending along a first longitudinal axis; 
 a mounting assembly secured to the frame for mounting the frame to a motorized vehicle downstream therefrom so as to move the frame along a direction of displacement oriented along the first longitudinal axis; 
 a snow regenerator mounted to the frame; 
 a snow compactor mounted to the frame downstream from the snow regenerator; 
 a leveller mounted to the frame upstream from the snow regenerator so as to be pivotable relatively to the direction of displacement towards a selected lateral side of the frame and so as to contact a snowy ground under the frame when the frame is mounted to the vehicle; and 
 a track setter positioned downstream from the snow compactor and secured to the frame via a lever which biases the track setter towards a snowy ground when the ski track maintenance system lays thereon.